Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
Powder and granule, process for making such powder and granule, and use
thereof
The present invention is directed towards a process for making a powder or
granule containing
(A) in the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight of at least one chelating agent
selected from
methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA) and
imino-
disuccinic acid (IDS) and their respective alkali metal salts,
(B) in the range of from 1 to 20 % by weight of at least one homo- or
copolymer of
(meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali,
percentages referring to the solids content of said powder or granule,
said process comprising the steps of
(a) mixing the at least one chelating agent (A) and the at least one homo- or
copolymer (B)
in the presence of water,
(b) removing most of said water by spray-drying or spray granulation using a
gas with an in-
let temperature of at least 125 C.
Complexing agents such as methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic
acid diacetic acid
(GLDA) and their respective alkali metal salts are useful sequestrants for
alkaline earth metal
ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. For that reason, they are recommended and used for
various pur-
.. poses such as laundry detergents and for automatic dishwashing (ADW)
formulations, in partic-
ular for so-called phosphate-free laundry detergents and phosphate-free ADW
formulations. For
shipping such complexing agents, in most cases either solids such as granules
or powders are
being applied or aqueous solutions.
.. Granules and powders have the advantage of being essentially water-free.
That means that in
case of shipping, no water has to be shipped, and costs for extra weight can
be avoided. How-
ever, still many powders and granules show the problem of yellowing, in
particular when con-
tacted with chlorine-free bleaching agents such as, but not limited to
inorganic peroxides. Ex-
amples of inorganic peroxides are sodium perborate, sodium persulfate and in
particular sodium
percarbonate.
A lot of additives have been tried in order to limit such yellowing. Most of
them, however, either
deteriorate the activity of the bleaching agent or considerably slow down the
dissolution of the
complexing agent, both effects being undesirable.
WO 2009/103822 discloses a process for making granules of MGDA by heating a
slurry of
MGDA with a high solids content and spray drying such highly concentrated
slurry with an air
inlet temperature in the range of from 50 to 120 C.
.. From WO 2009/003979 it is known that the addition of polyethylene glycol to
MGDA has a ben-
eficial effect for the manufacture of tablets for automatic dishwashing.
However, the yellowing
problem has not been addressed.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
2
It was therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a chelating
agent preferably in
form of a powder or of a granule, such powder or granule showing a reduced
yellowing behav-
iour especially after contact with one or more chlorine-free bleaching agents.
It was further an
objective to provide a process for making a chelating agent preferably in form
of a powder or of
a granule, such powder or granule showing a reduced yellowing behaviour
especially after con-
tact with one or more chlorine-free bleaching agents.
Accordingly, the process defined at the outset has been found, hereinafter
also being referred to
as "inventive process" or as "process according to the (present) invention".
The inventive process provides granules or powders, hereinafter also referred
to as "inventive
granules" or "inventive powders", respectively. Inventive powders and
inventive granules can be
manufactured according to the inventive process.
In the course of the present invention, inventive powders are particulate
materials that are solids
at ambient temperature and that preferably have an average particle diameter
in the range of
from 1 pm to less than 0.1 mm, preferably 100 pm up to 750 pm. The average
particle diameter
of inventive powders can be determined, e.g., by LASER diffraction methods,
for example with
Malvern apparatus, and refers to the volume average. Inventive granules are
particulate materi-
als that are solids at ambient temperature and that preferably have an average
particle diameter
in the range of from 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably 0.75 mm to 1.25 mm. The
average particle di-
ameter of inventive granules can be determined, e.g., by optical or preferably
by sieving meth-
ods. Sieves employed may have a mesh in the range of from 60 to 1,250 pm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders or inventive
granules have a
broad particle diameter distribution. In another embodiment of the present
invention, inventive
powders or inventive granules have a narrow particle diameter distribution.
The particle diame-
ter distribution can be adjusted, if desired, by multiple sieving steps.
Granules and powders may contain residual moisture, moisture referring to
water including wa-
ter of crystallization and adsorbed water. The amount of water may be in the
range of from 0.1
to 20% by weight, preferably 1 to 15% by weight, referring to the total solids
content of the re-
spective powder or granule, and may be determined by Karl-Fischer-titration or
by drying at
160 C to constant weight with infrared light.
Particles of inventive powders may have regular or irregular shape. Preferred
shapes of parti-
cles of inventive powders are spheroidal shapes.
Particles of inventive granules may have regular or irregular shapes.
Preferred shapes of parti-
cles of inventive granules are spheroidal shapes.
Powders and granules made according to the inventive process contain
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
3
(A) in the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight of at least one chelating agent
selected from
methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA) and
imino-
disuccinic acid (IDS) and their respective alkali metal salts, MGDA and GLDA
and IDS
and their respective alkali metal salts altogether also being referred to as
"chelating
agent (A)",
(B) in the range of from 1 to 20 % by weight of at least one homo- or
copolymer of
(meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali, hereinafter
also referred to as
"polymer (B)". Polymers (B) that are homopolymers are also being referred to
as "homo-
polymers (B)", and polymers (B) that are copolymers are also being referred to
as "co-
polymers (B)".
The percentages refer to the solids content of said powder or granule.
In the context of the present invention, alkali metal salts of methylglycine
diacetic acid are se-
lected from lithium salts, potassium salts and preferably sodium salts of
methylglycine diacetic
acid. Methylglycine diacetic acid can be partially or preferably fully
neutralized with the respec-
tive alkali. In a preferred embodiment, an average of from 2.7 to 3 COOH
groups of MGDA is
neutralized with alkali metal, preferably with sodium. In a particularly
preferred embodiment,
chelating agent (A) is the trisodium salt of MGDA.
Likewise, alkali metal salts of glutamic acid diacetic acid are selected from
lithium salts, potassi-
um salts and preferably sodium salts of glutamic acid diacetic acid. Glutamic
acid diacetic acid
can be partially or preferably fully neutralized with the respective alkali.
In a preferred embodi-
ment, an average of from 3.5 to 4 COOH groups of MGDA is neutralized with
alkali metal, pref-
erably with sodium. In a particularly preferred embodiment, chelating agent
(A) is the tetrasodi-
urn salt of GLDA.
Likewise, alkali metal salts of iminodisuccinic acid are selected from lithium
salts, potassium
salts and preferably sodium salts of iminodisuccinic acid. Iminodisuccinic
acid can be partially or
preferably fully neutralized with the respective alkali. In a preferred
embodiment, an average of
from 3.5 to 4 COOH groups of IDS is neutralized with alkali metal, preferably
with sodium. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, chelating agent (A) is the tetrasodium salt
of IDS.
MGDA and GLDA and their respective alkali metal salts are preferred.
MGDA and its respective alkali metal salts can be selected from the racemic
mixtures, the D-
isomers and the L-isomers, and from mixtures of the D- and L-isomers other
than the racemic
mixtures. Preferably, MGDA and its respective alkali metal salts are selected
from the racemic
mixture and from mixtures containing in the range of from 55 to 85 mole-% of
the L-isomer, the
balance being D-isomer. Particularly preferred are mixtures containing in the
range of from 60 to
80 mole-% of the L-isomer, the balance being 0-isomer.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
4
The distribution of L- and D-enantiomer can be determined by measuring the
polarization (polar-
imetry) or preferably by chromatography, for example by HPLC with a chiral
column, for exam-
ple with one or more cyclodextrins as immobilized phase. Preferred is
determination of the ee
by HPLC with an immobilized optically active ammonium salt such as D-
penicillamine.
GLDA and its respective alkali metal salts can be selected from the racemic
mixtures, the D-
isomers and the L-isomers, and from mixtures of the D- and L-isomers other
than the racemic
mixtures. Preferably, GLDA and its respective alkali metal salts are selected
from mixtures con-
taining in the range of from 75 to 99 mole-% of the L-isomer, the balance
being D-isomer. Par-
ticularly preferred are mixtures containing in the range of from 80 to 97.5
mole-% of the L-
isomer, the balance being D-isomer.
Likewise, IDS and its respective alkali metal salts may be in the form of pure
isomers or prefer-
ably mixtures from isomers including the meso-form.
In any way, minor amounts of chelating agent (A) may bear a cation other than
alkali metal. It is
thus possible that minor amounts, such as 0.01 to 5 mol-% of total chelating
agent (A) bear al-
kali earth metal cations such as Mg2+ or Ca2+, or an Fe2+ or Fe3+ cation.
In one embodiment of the present invention, chelating agent (A) may contain
one or more impu-
rities that may result from the production of the respective chelating agent.
In the case of MGDA
and its alkali metal salts, such impurities may be selected from alkali metal
propionate, lactic
acid, alanine or the like. Such impurities are usually present in minor
amounts. "Minor amounts"
in this context refer to a total of 0.1 to 1%by weight, referring to chelating
agent (A). In the con-
text of the present invention, such minor amounts are neglected when
determining the composi-
tion of inventive powder or inventive granule, respectively.
In one embodiment of the present invention, chelating agent that is starting
material for the in-
ventive process is of white or pale yellow appearance.
Polymer (B) is selected from homopolymers (B) of (meth)acrylic acid and of
copolymers (B) of
(meth)acrylic acid, preferably of acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized
with alkali. In the con-
text of the present invention, copolymers (B) are those in which at least 50
mol-% of the
comonomers are (meth)acrylic acid, preferably at least 75 mol-%, even more
preferably 80 to
99 mol-%.
Suitable comonomers for copolymers (B) are ethylenically unsaturated
compounds, such as
styrene, isobutene, ethylene, a-olefins such as propylene, 1-butylene, 1-
hexene, and ethyleni-
cally unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and their alkali metal salty and
anhydrides such as but not
limited to maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid disodium maleate, disodium
fumarate, itaconic
anhydride, and especially maleic anhydride. Further examples of suitable
comonomers are Ci-
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
Ca-alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid, for example methyl acrylate, methyl
methacrylate, ethyl
acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate.
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) is selected from
copolymers of
5 (meth)acrylic acid and a comonomer bearing at least one sulfonic acid
group per molecule.
Comonomers bearing at least one sulfonic acid group per molecule may be
incorporated into
polymer (B) as free acid or least partially neutralized with alkali.
Particularly preferred sulfonic-
acid-group-containing comonomers are 1-acrylamido-1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-
acrylamido-2-
propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), 2-
methacrylamido-2-
methylpropanesulfonic acid, 3-methacrylamido-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid,
allylsulfonic ac-
id, methallylsulfonic acid, allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid,
methallyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, 2-
hydroxy-3-(2-propenyloxy)propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-2-propene-1-sulfonic
acid, styrenesul-
fonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl
methacrylate, 3-sulfopropyl
methacrylate, sulfomethacrylamide, sulfomethylmethacrylamide, and salts of
said acids, such
as the sodium salts, potassium salts or ammonium salts thereof.
Copolymers (B) may be selected from random copolymers, alternating copolymers,
block copol-
ymers and graft copolymers, alternating copolymers and especially random
copolymers being
preferred.
Useful copolymers (B) are, for example, random copolymers of acrylic acid and
methacrylic ac-
id, random copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, ternary random
copolymers of
acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and maleic anhydride, random or block
copolymers of acrylic acid
and styrene, random copolymers of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate. More
preferred are homo-
polymers of methacrylic acid. Even more preferred are homopolymers of acrylic
acid.
Polymer (B) may constitute straight-chain or branched molecules. Branching in
this context will
be when at least one repeating unit of such polymer (B) is not part of the
main chain but forms a
branch or part of a branch. Preferably, polymer (B) is not cross-linked.
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) has an average
molecular weight Mw
in the range of from 1,200 to 30,000 g/mol, preferably from 2,500 to 15,000
g/mol and even
more preferably from 3,000 to 10,000 g/mol, determined by gel permeation
chromatography
(GPC) and referring to the respective free acid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) is at least partially
neutralized with
alkali, for example with lithium or potassium or sodium or combinations of at
least two of the
forgoing, especially with sodium. For example, in the range of from 10 to 100
mol-% of the car-
boxyl groups of polymer (B) may be neutralized with alkali, especially with
sodium.
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) is selected from per-
sodium salts of
polyacrylic acid, thus, polyacrylic acid, fully neutralized with sodium.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
6
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) is selected from a
combination of at
least one polyacrylic acid and at least one copolymer of (meth)acrylic acid
and a comonomer
bearing at least one sulfonic acid group per molecule, both polymers being
fully neutralized with
alkali.
In one embodiment of the present invention, polymer (B) is selected from per-
sodium salts of
polyacrylic acid with an average molecular weight My, in the range of from
1,200 to 30,000
g/mol, preferably from 2,500 to 15,000 g/mol and even more preferably from
3,000 to 10,000
g/mol, determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPO) and referring to the
respective free
acid.
The inventive process comprises two steps,
(a) mixing the at least one chelating agent (A) and the at least one homo- or
copolymer (B)
in the presence of water,
(b) removing most of said water by spray-drying or spray granulation,
hereinafter also referred to as step (a) and step (b). Usually, step (b) is
performed after step (a).
Step (a) and step (b) will be described in more detail below.
Mixing of chelating agent (A) and polymer (B) is usually performed in the
presence of water.
Said mixing can be conducted in a way that an aqueous solution of polymer (B)
and an aqueous
solution of chelating agent (A) are being combined in a vessel, preferably
under stirring. It is
also possible to combine an aqueous solution of polymer (B) and solid
chelating agent (A), or to
combine an aqueous solution of chelating agent (A) with solid polymer (B), or
to combine aque-
ous slurries of chelating agent (A) and polymer (B). In an alternative
embodiment, water is pro-
vided and subsequently, polymer (B) and then chelating agent (A) are added. In
a preferred
embodiment, a solution of chelating agent (A) is provided that has a
temperature of 35 to 50 C,
and polymer (B) is being added, either in bulk or as solution.
Step (a) can be performed at ambient temperature. In other embodiments, step
(a) is being per-
formed at 20 C or at elevated temperature, for example at a temperature in
the range of from
25 to 90 C, preferably 60 to 75 C.
The water used in step (a) may be present in an amount that both chelating
agent (A) and pol-
ymer (B) are dissolved. However, it is also possible to use less amounts of
water and mix che-
lating agent (A) and polymer (B) in a way that a slurry is being formed.
Solutions are preferred.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the total solids content of such
solution or slurry
formed as result of step (a) is in the range of from 20 to 75%, preferably 35
to 50%.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
7
In one embodiment of the present invention, such solution or slurry has a pH
value in the range
of from 2.5 to 13, preferably from 7 to 13 and even more preferably at least
8.
Mixing may be performed with mechanical support, for example shaking or
stirring.
In step (b), a spray-drying or spray granulation is performed, using a gas
with an inlet tempera-
ture of at least 125 C. Said gas, hereinafter also being referred to as "hot
gas", may be nitrogen,
a rare gas or preferably air. In the course of step (b), most of the water
used in step (a) will be
removed, for example at least 55%, preferably at least 65% of the water. In
one embodiment of
the present invention, 99% of the water at most will be removed.
Spray-drying and spray granulation will be described in more detail below.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a drying vessel, for example a
spray chamber or a
spray tower, is being used in which a spray-granulating process is being
performed by using a
fluidized bed. Such a drying vessel is charged with a fluidized bed of a solid
mixture solid mix-
ture of chelating agent (A) and polymer (B), obtained by any drying method
such as spray dry-
ing or evaporation crystallization, and a solution or slurry of solid mixture
of chelating agent (A)
and polymer (B) is sprayed onto or into such fluidized bed together with a hot
gas stream. The
hot gas inlet stream may have a temperature in the range of from 125 to 350 C,
preferably 160
to 220 C.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluidized bed may have a
temperature in the
range of from 80 to 150 C, preferably 100 to 120 C.
Spraying is being performed through one or more nozzles per drying vessel.
Suitable nozzles
are, for example, high-pressure rotary drum atomizers, rotary atomizers,
single-fluid nozzles
and two-fluid nozzles, two-fluid nozzles and rotary atomizers being preferred.
The first fluid is
the solution or slurry obtained according to step (a), the second fluid is
compressed gas, for
example with a pressure of 1.1 to 7 bar.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the droplets formed during the
spray-granulating
have an average diameter in the range of from 10 to 500 pm, preferably from 20
to 180 pm,
even more preferably from 30 to 100 pm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the off-gas departing the drying
vessel may have a
temperature in the range of from 40 to 140 C, preferably 80 to 110 C but in
any way colder than
the hot gas stream. Preferably, the temperature of the off-gas departing the
drying vessel and
the temperature of the solid product present in the drying vessel are
identical.
In another embodiment of the present invention, spray-granulation is being
performed by per-
forming two or more consecutive spray-drying processes, for example in a
cascade of at least
two spray dryers, for example in a cascade of at least two consecutive spray
towers or a combi-
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
8
nation of a spray tower and a spray chamber, said spray chamber containing a
fluidized bed. In
the first dryer, a spray-drying process is being performed in the way as
follows.
Spray-drying may be preferred in a spray dryer, for example a spray chamber or
a spray tower.
A solution or slurry obtained according to step (a) with a temperature
preferably higher than
ambient temperature, for example in the range of from 50 to 95 C, is
introduced into the spray
dryer through one or more spray nozzles into a hot gas inlet stream, for
example nitrogen or air,
the solution or slurry being converted into droplets and the water being
vaporized. The hot gas
inlet stream may have a temperature in the range of from 125 to 350 C.
The second spray dryer is charged with a fluidized bed with solid from the
first spray dryer and
solution or slurry obtained according to the above step is sprayed onto or
into the fluidized bed,
together with a hot gas inlet stream. The hot gas inlet stream may have a
temperature in the
range of from 125 to 350 C, preferably 160 to 220 C.
In one embodiment of the present invention, especially in a process for making
an inventive
granule, the average residence time of chelating agent (A) and polymer (B),
respectively, in step
(b) is in the range of from 2 minutes to 4 hours, preferably from 30 minutes
to 2 hours.
In another embodiment, especially in a process for making an inventive powder,
the average
residence time of chelating agent (A) and polymer (B), in step (b) is in the
range of from 1 sec-
ond to 1 minute, especially 2 to 20 seconds.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure in the drying vessel
in step (b) is nor-
.. mal pressure 100 mbar, preferably normal pressure 20 mbar, for example
one mbar less
than normal pressure.
In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more additives (C) can be
added to the so-
lution obtained according to step (a) before performing step (b), or one or
more of such addi-
tives (C) can be added at any stage during step (a). Examples of useful
additives (C) are, for
example, titanium dioxide, sugar, silica gel and polyvinyl alcohol. Polyvinyl
alcohol in the context
of the present invention refers to completely or partially hydrolyzed
polyvinyl acetate. In partially
hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, at least 95 mol-%, preferably at least 96 mol-%
of the acetate
groups have been hydrolyzed.
In one embodiment of the present invention polyvinyl alcohol has an average
molecular weight
M, in the range of from 22,500 to 115,000 g/mol, for example up to 40,000
g/mol.
In one embodiment of the present invention polyvinyl alcohol has an average
molecular weight
Mn in the range of from 2,000 to 40,000 g/mol.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
9
Additive(s) (C) can amount to 0.1 to 5 % by weight, referring to the sum of
chelating agent (A)
and polymer (B).
Preferably, no additive (C) is being employed in step (b).
One or more additional steps (c) may be performed at any stage of the
inventive proves, prefer-
ably after step (b). It is thus possible to perform a sieving step (c) to
remove lumps from the
powder or granule. Also, a post-drying step (c) is possible. Air classifying
can be performed dur-
ing or after step (b) to remove fines.
Fines, especially those with a diameter of less than 50 pm, may deteriorate
the flowing behavior
of powders or granules obtained according to the inventive process. However,
amorphous or
preferably crystalline fines may be returned to the spray vessel(s) as seed
for crystallization.
Lumps may be removed and either re-dissolved in water or milled and used as
seed for crystal-
lization in the spray vessel(s).
The inventive process furnishes powders or granules containing chelating agent
(A) and poly-
mer (B) and, optionally, one or more additives (C). Such powders and granules
exhibit overall
advantageous properties including but not limited to an excellent yellowing
behavior.
Another aspect of the present invention are powders and granules, hereinafter
also being re-
ferred to as inventive powders or inventive granules, respectively, containing
(A) in the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight of at least one chelating
agent selected from
methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) and glutamic acid diacetate (GLDA) and
their respec-
tive alkali metal salts,
(B) in the range of from 1 to 20 % by weight of at least one homo- or
copolymer of
(meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali,
in molecularly disperse form, percentages referring to the solids content of
said powder or gran-
ule.
Chelating agent (A) and polymer (B) have been defined above.
In the context of the present invention, the term "in molecularly disperse
form" implies that all or
a vast majority, for example at least 80% of the particles of inventive powder
and of inventive
.. granules contain chelating agent (A) and polymer (B).
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders are selected
from powders hav-
ing an average particle diameter in the range of from 1 pm to less than 0.1
mm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive granules are selected
from granules with
an average particle diameter in the range of from 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably
0.75 mm to 1.25
mm.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powder or inventive
granule contains in
the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight chelating agent (A) and 1 to 20 % by
weight homo- or
copolymer (B), percentages referring to the solids content of said powder or
granule.
5 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the term "in
molecularly disperse form" also
implies that essentially all particles of inventive powder or inventive
granule contains in the
range of from 80 to 99 % by weight chelating agent (A) and 1 to 20 % by weight
homo- or co-
polymer (B), percentages referring to the solids content of the respective
powder or granule.
10 In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders and
inventive granules are se-
lected from those wherein polymer (B) has an average molecular weight Mw in
the range of from
1,200 to 30,000 g/mol, determined by gel permeation chromatography and
referring to the re-
spective free acid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders and inventive
granules are se-
lected from those wherein chelating agent (A) is selected from the trisodium
salt of MGDA and
the tetrasodium salt of GLDA.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders and inventive
granules are se-
lected from those wherein said homo- and copolymer (B) are selected from the
per-sodium salts
of polyacrylic acid.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders and inventive
granules are se-
lected from those wherein said polymer (B) is selected from copolymers of
(meth)acrylic acid
and a comonomer bearing at least one sulfonic acid group per molecule.
Comonomers bearing
at least one sulfonic acid group per molecule may be incorporated into polymer
(B) as free acid
or least partially neutralized with alkali. Particularly preferred sulfonic-
acid-group-containing
comonomers are 1-acrylamido-1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-
propanesulfonic acid, 2-
acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), 2-methacrylamido-2-
methylpropanesulfonic
acid, 3-methacrylamido-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid,
methallylsulfonic acid,
allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, methallyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-(2-
propenyloxy)-
propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-2-propene-1-sulfonic acid, styrenesulfonic
acid, vinylsulfonic
acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, 3-sulfopropyl
methacrylate, sulfomethac-
rylamide, sulfomethylmethacrylamide, and salts of said acids, such as the
sodium salts, potas-
sium salts or ammonium salts thereof.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive powders and inventive
granules are se-
lected from those wherein said polymer (B) is selected from a combination of
at least one poly-
acrylic acid and at least one copolymer of (meth)acrylic acid and a comonomer
bearing at least
one sulfonic acid group per molecule, both polymers being fully neutralized
with alkali.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
11
Inventive powders and inventive granules exhibit overall advantageous
properties including but
not limited to an excellent yellowing behavior, especially in the presence of
bleaching agents.
They are therefore excellently suitable for the manufacture of cleaning agents
that contain at
least one bleaching agent, such cleaning agent hereinafter also being referred
to as bleach. In
.. particular inventive powders and inventive granules are suitable for the
manufacture cleaning
agent for fibers or hard surfaces wherein said cleaning agent contains at
least one peroxy com-
pound.
Inventive granules and especially inventive powders may easily be converted
into compactates
and into agglomerates.
Another aspect of the present invention is therefore the use of an inventive
powder or an in-
ventive granule according for the manufacture of a cleaning agent that
contains at least one
bleaching agent, and in particular for the manufacture of cleaning agent for
fibers or hard sur-
faces, wherein said cleaning agent contains at least one peroxy compound.
Another aspect of
the present invention is a process for making at a cleaning agent by combining
at least one in-
ventive powder or at least one inventive granule with at least one bleaching
agent, preferably at
least one peroxy compound. Another aspect of the present invention is a
cleaning agent, here-
inafter also being referred to as inventive cleaning agent. Inventive cleaning
agents contain at
least one bleaching agent and at least one inventive powder or at least one
inventive granule.
Inventive cleaning agents show a reduced tendency for yellowing and therefore
have an ex-
tended shelve-life.
Examples of suitable peroxy compounds are sodium perborate, anhydrous or for
example as
monohydrate or as tetrahydrate or so-called dihydrate, sodium percarbonate,
anhydrous or, for
example, as monohydrate, hydrogen peroxide, persulfates, organic peracids such
as peroxylau-
ric acid, peroxystearic acid, peroxy-a-naphthoic acid, 1,12-
diperoxydodecanedioic acid, per-
benzoic acid, peroxylauric acid, 1,9-diperoxyazelaic acid, diperoxyisophthalic
acid, in each case
as free acid or as alkali metal salt, in particular as sodium salt, also
sulfonylperoxy acids and
cationic peroxy acids.
In a preferred embodiment, peroxy compound is selected from inorganic
percarbonates, persul-
fates and perborates. Examples of sodium percarbonates are 2 Na2CO3=3 H202.
Examples of
sodium perborate are (Na2[B(OH)2(02)]2), sometimes written as NaB02.02.3H20
instead. Most
preferred peroxy compound is sodium percarbonate.
The term "cleaning agents" includes compositions for dishwashing, especially
hand dishwash
and automatic dishwashing and ware-washing, and compositions for hard surface
cleaning such
as, but not limited to compositions for bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning,
floor cleaning, de-
scaling of pipes, window cleaning, car cleaning including truck cleaning,
furthermore, open plant
cleaning, cleaning-in-place, metal cleaning, disinfectant cleaning, farm
cleaning, high pressure
cleaning, and in addition, laundry detergent compositions.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
12
Such cleaning agents may be liquids, gels or preferably solids at ambient
temperature, solids
cleaning agents being preferred. They may be in the form of a powder or in the
form of a unit
dose, for example as a tablet.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents may
contain
in the range of from 2 to 50 % by weight of inventive powder or inventive
granule,
in the range of from 0.5 to 15 % by weight of bleach.
Percentages are based on the solids content of the respective inventive
cleaning agent.
Inventive cleaning agents may contain further ingredients such as one or more
surfactants that
may be selected from non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic
surfactants. Other ingredients
that may be contained in inventive cleaning agents may be selected from bleach
activators,
bleach catalysts, corrosion inhibitors, sequestering agents, fragrances,
dyestuffs, antifoams,
and builders.
Particularly advantageous inventive cleaning agents may contain one or more
complexing
agents other than MGDA or GLDA. Advantageous detergent compositions for
cleaners and ad-
vantageous laundry detergent compositions may contain one or more sequestrant
(chelating
agent) other than a mixture according to the present invention. Examples for
sequestrants other
than a mixture according to the present invention are IDS (iminodisuccinate),
citrate, phosphon-
ic acid derivatives, for example the disodium salt of hydroxyethane-1,1-
diphosphonic acid
("HEDP"), and polymers with complexing groups like, for example,
polyethyleneimine in which
20 to 90 mole-% of the N-atoms bear at least one CH2C00- group, and their
respective alkali
metal salts, especially their sodium salts, for example IDS-Naa, and trisodium
citrate, and phos-
phates such as STPP (sodium tripolyphosphate). Due to the fact that phosphates
raise envi-
ronmental concerns, it is preferred that advantageous inventive cleaning
agents are free from
phosphate. "Free from phosphate" should be understood in the context of the
present invention,
as meaning that the content of phosphate and polyphosphate is in sum in the
range from 10
ppm to 0.2% by weight, determined by gravimetry and referring to the
respective inventive
cleaning agent.
Inventive cleaning agents may contain one or more surfactant, preferably one
or more non-ionic
surfactant.
Preferred non-ionic surfactants are alkoxylated alcohols, di- and multiblock
copolymers of eth-
ylene oxide and propylene oxide and reaction products of sorbitan with
ethylene oxide or pro-
pylene oxide, alkyl polyglycosides (APG), hydroxyalkyl mixed ethers and amine
oxides.
Preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated fatty alcohols are,
for example,
compounds of the general formula (I)
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
13
R1
(I)
in which the variables are defined as follows:
R1 is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear C1-
C10-alkyl, preferably in
each case identical and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl,
R2 is selected from C8-C22-alkyl, branched or linear, for example n-C81-
117, n-C10E121, 11-C121-125,
n-C1.4F-129, n-C16H33 or n-C18H37,
R3 is selected from Ci-Cio-alkyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-
butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl,
tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl,
isoamyl, n-hexyl,
isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl or
isodecyl,
m and n are in the range from zero to 300, where the sum of n and m is at
least one, preferably
in the range of from 3 to 50. Preferably, m is in the range from 1 to 100 and
n is in the range
from 0 to 30.
In one embodiment, compounds of the general formula (I) may be block
copolymers or random
copolymers, preference being given to block copolymers.
Other preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols are, for example, compounds
of the general
formula (II)
R1 R1
(II)
in which the variables are defined as follows:
R1 is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear Ci-Co-
alkyl, preferably iden-
tical in each case and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl,
R4 is selected from C6-C20-alkyl, branched or linear, in particular n-
C8I-117, n-C12H25,
n-C14H29, n-C16H33, n-C18H37,
a is a number in the range from zero to 10, preferably from 1 to 6,
b is a number in the range from 1 to 80, preferably from 4 to 20,
d is a number in the range from zero to 50, preferably 4 to 25.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
14
The sum a + b + d is preferably in the range of from 5 to 100, even more
preferably in the range
of from 9 to 50.
Preferred examples for hydroxyalkyl mixed ethers are compounds of the general
formula (Ill)
OH
Ri
ROO
R3
- - n
in which the variables are defined as follows:
R1 is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear Ci-Cio-
alkyl, preferably in
each case identical and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl,
R2 is selected from C8-C22-alkyl, branched or linear, for example iso-
Cii H23, iso-C13H27, n-
C81-117, n-C12H25, n-C14H29, n-C16H33 or n-C18H37,
R3 is selected from Ci-C18-alkyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-
butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl,
tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl,
isoamyl, n-hexyl,
isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl,
isodecyl, n-dodecyl,
n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, and n-octadecyl.
The variables m and n are in the range from zero to 300, where the sum of n
and m is at least
one, preferably in the range of from 5 to 50. Preferably, m is in the range
from 1 to 100 and n is
in the range from 0 to 30.
Compounds of the general formula (II) and (Ill) may be block copolymers or
random copoly-
mers, preference being given to block copolymers.
Further suitable nonionic surfactants are selected from di- and multiblock
copolymers, com-
posed of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Further suitable nonionic
surfactants are selected
from ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan esters. Amine oxides or alkyl
polyglycosides, espe-
cially linear C4-C16-alkyl polyglucosides and branched C8-C14-alkyl
polyglycosides such as com-
pounds of general average formula (IV) are likewise suitable.
5 r21
R
61
(IV)
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
wherein the variables are defined as follows:
R5 is C1-C4-alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl,
R6 is -(CH2)2-R5,
5
G1 is selected from monosaccharides with 4 to 6 carbon atoms, especially
from glucose and
xylose,
in the range of from 1.1 to 4, x being an average number.
An overview of suitable further nonionic surfactants can be found in EP-A 0
851 023 and in DE-
A 198 19 187.
Mixtures of two or more different nonionic surfactants may also be present.
Other surfactants that may be present are selected from amphoteric
(zwitterionic) surfactants
and anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.
Examples of amphoteric surfactants are those that bear a positive and a
negative charge in the
same molecule under use conditions. Preferred examples of amphoteric
surfactants are so-
called betaine-surfactants. Many examples of betaine-surfactants bear one
quaternized nitrogen
atom and one carboxylic acid group per molecule. A particularly preferred
example of amphoter-
ic surfactants is cocamidopropyl betaine (lauramidopropyl betaine).
Examples of amine oxide surfactants are compounds of the general formula (V)
R7R8R9N¨>0 (V)
wherein R7, R8 and R9 are selected independently from each other from
aliphatic, cycloaliphatic
or C2-C4-alkylene Cio-C20-alkylamido moieties. Preferably, R7 is selected from
C8-C20-alkyl or C2-
C4-alkylene Cio-C2o-alkylamido and R8 and R9 are both methyl.
A particularly preferred example is lauryl dimethyl aminoxide, sometimes also
called lauramine
oxide. A further particularly preferred example is cocamidylpropyl
dimethylaminoxide, some-
times also called cocamidopropylamine oxide.
Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are alkali metal and ammonium salts
of C8-C18-alkyl
sulfates, of C8-C18-fatty alcohol polyether sulfates, of sulfuric acid half-
esters of ethoxylated C4-
C12-alkylphenols (ethoxylation: 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide/mol), C12-C18
sulfo fatty acid alkyl
esters, for example of C12-C18 sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, furthermore of
C12-C18-alkylsulfonic
acids and of C10-C18-alkylarylsulfonic acids. Preference is given to the
alkali metal salts of the
aforementioned compounds, particularly preferably the sodium salts.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
16
Further examples for suitable anionic surfactants are soaps, for example the
sodium or potassi-
um salts of stearoic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, ether carboxylates, and
alkylether phos-
phates.
Preferably, laundry detergent compositions contain at least one anionic
surfactant.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents that are
determined to be
used as laundry detergent compositions may contain 0.1 to 60 % by weight of at
least one sur-
factant, selected from anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and amine
oxide surfactants.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents that are
determined to be
used for hard surface cleaning may contain 0.1 to 60 % by weight of at least
one surfactant,
selected from anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and amine oxide
surfactants.
In a preferred embodiment, inventive cleaning agents do not contain any
anionic detergent.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more bleach catalysts. Bleach
catalysts can be
selected from bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal
complexes such as, for
example, manganese-, iron-, cobalt-, ruthenium- or molybdenum-salen complexes
or carbonyl
complexes. Manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium
and copper
complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands and also cobalt-, iron-,
copper- and rutheni-
um-amine complexes can also be used as bleach catalysts.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more bleach activators, for
example N-
methylmorpholinium-acetonitrile salts ("MMA salts"), trimethylammonium
acetonitrile salts, N-
acylimides such as, for example, N-nonanoylsuccinimide, 1,5-diacety1-2,2-
dioxohexahydro-
1,3,5-triazine ("DADHT") or nitrile quats (trimethylammonium acetonitrile
salts).
Further examples of suitable bleach activators are tetraacetylethylenediamine
(TAED) and
tetraacetylhexylenediamine.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more corrosion inhibitors. In
the present case,
this is to be understood as including those compounds which inhibit the
corrosion of metal. Ex-
amples of suitable corrosion inhibitors are triazoles, in particular
benzotriazoles, bisbenzotria-
zoles, aminotriazoles, alkylaminotriazoles, also phenol derivatives such as,
for example, hydro-
quinone, pyrocatechol, hydroxyhydroquinone, gallic acid, phloroglucinol or
pyrogallol.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents comprise
in total in the
range from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of corrosion inhibitor.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more builders, selected from
organic and inor-
ganic builders. Examples of suitable inorganic builders are sodium sulfate or
sodium carbonate
or silicates, in particular sodium disilicate and sodium metasilicate,
zeolites, sheet silicates, in
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
17
particular those of the formula a-Na2Si205, 3-Na2Si205, and 6-Na2Si205, also
fatty acid sul-
fonates, a-hydroxypropionic acid, alkali metal malonates, fatty acid
sulfonates, alkyl and alkenyl
disuccinates, tartaric acid diacetate, tartaric acid monoacetate, oxidized
starch, and polymeric
builders, for example polycarboxylates and polyaspartic acid.
Examples of organic builders are especially polymers and copolymers other than
copolymer (B),
or one additional copolymer (B). In one embodiment of the present invention,
organic builders
are selected from polycarboxylates, for example alkali metal salts of
(meth)acrylic acid homo-
polymers or (meth)acrylic acid copolymers, partially or completely neutralized
with alkali.
Suitable comonomers for (meth)are monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic
acids such as
maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid and citraconic
acid. A suitable polymer
is in particular polyacrylic acid, which preferably has an average molecular
weight Mw in the
range from 2000 to 40 000 g/mol, preferably 3,000 to 10,000 g/mol.
It is also possible to use copolymers of at least one monomer from the group
consisting of mo-
noethylenically unsaturated 03-Cio-mono- or 04-Cio-dicarboxylic acids or
anhydrides thereof,
such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, fumaric
acid, itaconic acid
and citraconic acid, with at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomer as
listed below.
Suitable hydrophobic monomers are, for example, isobutene, diisobutene,
butene, pentene,
hexene and styrene, olefins with 10 or more carbon atoms or mixtures thereof,
such as, for ex-
ample, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-
eicosene, 1-
docosene, 1-tetracosene and 1-hexacosene, C22-a-olefin, a mixture of C20-C24-a-
olefins and
polyisobutene having on average 12 to 100 carbon atoms per molecule.
Suitable hydrophilic monomers are monomers with sulfonate or phosphonate
groups, and also
nonionic monomers with hydroxyl function or alkylene oxide groups. By way of
example, men-
tion may be made of: allyl alcohol, isoprenol, methoxypolyethylene glycol
(meth)acrylate, meth-
oxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypolybutylene glycol
(meth)acrylate, methoxy-
poly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolyethylene
glycol
(meth)acrylate, ethoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolybutylene
glycol
(meth)acrylate and ethoxypoly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide)
(meth)acrylate. Polyalkylene
glycols here may comprise 3 to 50, in particular 5 to 40 and especially 10 to
30 alkylene oxide
units per molecule.
Particularly preferred sulfonic-acid-group-containing monomers here are 1-
acrylamido-
1-propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-
2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid,
3-methacrylamido-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid,
methallylsulfonic acid, al-
lyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, methallyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy-
3-(2-propenyloxy)propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-2-propene-1-sulfonic acid,
styrenesulfonic ac-
id, vinylsulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, 3-
sulfopropyl methacry-
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
18
late, sulfomethacrylamide, sulfomethylmethacrylamide, and salts of said acids,
such as sodium,
potassium or ammonium salts thereof.
Particularly preferred phosphonate-group-containing monomers are
vinylphosphonic acid and
its salts.
Moreover, amphoteric polymers can also be used as builders.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise, for example, in the range from in
total 10 to 50% by
weight, preferably up to 20% by weight, of builder.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents
according to the inven-
tion may comprise one or more cobuilders.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more antifoams, selected for
example from sili-
cone oils and paraffin oils.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents comprise
in total in the
range from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of antifoam.
Inventive cleaning agents may comprise one or more enzymes. Examples of
enzymes are li-
pases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, esterases, pectinases,
lactases and perox-
idases.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents may
comprise, for ex-
ample, up to 5% by weight of enzyme, preference being given to 0.1 to 3% by
weight. Said en-
zyme may be stabilized, for example with the sodium salt of at least one Cl-C3-
carboxylic acid
or C4-Cio-dicarboxylic acid. Preferred are formates, acetates, adipates, and
succinates.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents may
comprise at least
one zinc salt. Zinc salts can be selected from water-soluble and water-
insoluble zinc salts. In
this connection, within the context of the present invention, water-insoluble
is used to refer to
those zinc salts which, in distilled water at 25 C, have a solubility of 0.1
g/I or less. Zinc salts
which have a higher solubility in water are accordingly referred to within the
context of the pre-
sent invention as water-soluble zinc salts.
In one embodiment of the present invention, zinc salt is selected from zinc
benzoate, zinc glu-
conate, zinc lactate, zinc formate, ZnCl2, ZnSO4, zinc acetate, zinc citrate,
Zn(NO3)2,
Zn(CH3S03)2 and zinc gallate, preferably ZnCl2, ZnSO4, zinc acetate, zinc
citrate, Zn(NO3)2,
Zn(CH3S03)2 and zinc gallate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, zinc salt is selected from
ZnO, ZnO-aq,
Zn(OH)2 and ZnCO3. Preference is given to ZnO-aq.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
19
In one embodiment of the present invention, zinc salt is selected from zinc
oxides with an aver-
age particle diameter (weight-average) in the range from 10 nm to 100 pm.
The cation in zinc salt can be present in complexed form, for example
complexed with ammonia
ligands or water ligands, and in particular be present in hydrated form. To
simplify the notation,
within the context of the present invention, ligands are generally omitted if
they are water lig-
ands.
Depending on how the pH of mixture according to the invention is adjusted,
zinc salt can
change. Thus, it is for example possible to use zinc acetate or ZnCl2 for
preparing formulation
according to the invention, but this converts at a pH of 8 or 9 in an aqueous
environment to
ZnO, Zn(OH)2 or ZnO=aq, which can be present in non-complexed or in complexed
form.
Zinc salt may be present in those inventive cleaning agents that are solid at
room temperature.
In such inventive cleaning agents zinc salts are preferably present in the
form of particles which
have for example an average diameter (number-average) in the range from 10 nm
to 100 pm,
preferably 100 nm to 5 pm, determined for example by X-ray scattering.
Zinc salt may be present in those inventive cleaning agents that are liquid at
room temperature.
In such inventive cleaning agents zinc salts are preferably present in
dissolved or in solid or in
.. colloidal form.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents comprise
in total in the
range from 0.05 to 0.4% by weight of zinc salt, based in each case on the
solids content of the
cleaning agent in question.
Here, the fraction of zinc salt is given as zinc or zinc ions. From this, it
is possible to calculate
the counterion fraction.
In one embodiment of the present invention, inventive cleaning agents are free
from heavy met-
als apart from zinc compounds. Within the context of the present, this may be
understood as
meaning that inventive cleaning agents are free from those heavy metal
compounds which do
not act as bleach catalysts, in particular of compounds of iron and of
bismuth. Within the context
of the present invention, "free from" in connection with heavy metal compounds
is to be under-
stood as meaning that the content of heavy metal compounds which do not act as
bleach cata-
lysts is in sum in the range from 0 to 100 ppm, determined by the leach method
and based on
the solids content. Preferably, inventive cleaning agents has, apart from
zinc, a heavy metal
content below 0.05 ppm, based on the solids content of the formulation in
question. The fraction
of zinc is thus not included.
Within the context of the present invention, "heavy metals" are deemed to be
all metals with a
specific density of at least 6 g/cm3 with the exception of zinc. In
particular, the heavy metals are
metals such as bismuth, iron, copper, lead, tin, nickel, cadmium and chromium.
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
Preferably, inventive cleaning agents comprise no measurable fractions of
bismuth compounds,
i.e. for example less than 1 ppm.
Inventive cleaning agents are excellent for cleaning hard surfaces and fibres.
5
The present invention is further illustrated by working examples.
General remarks: NI: Norm liter, liters under normal conditions; Nm3: norm
cubic meter, cubic
meter under normal conditions
The molecular weight of polymers (B.1) and (B.2) were determined GPC. Said
Measurements
were performed at a pH value of 7.4 (phosphate buffer), stationary phase:
cross-linked poly-
acrylate, mobile phase: water, pH value 7.4, phosphate buffer with 0.01 M
NaN3.
Starting materials:
(A.1): trisodium salt of methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA-Na3)
Polymer (B.1): polyacrylic acid, fully neutralized with sodium hydroxide, Mw:
4,000 g/mol, deter-
mined by GPC and referring to the free acid.
Polymer (B.2): polyacrylic acid, 25 mol-% neutralized with sodium hydroxide,
Mw: 4,000 g/mol,
determined by GPC and referring to the free acid.
Example I: Manufacture of inventive granules
1.1 Manufacture of spray solution SL.1
A vessel was charged with 6.37 kg of an aqueous solution of (A.1) (40 % by
weight) and 630 g
of a 45% by weight aqueous solution of polymer (B.1). The solution SL.1 so
obtained was
stirred and then subjected to spray granulation.
1.2 Spray granulation of Spray Solution SL.1
A cylindrical vessel with a perforated plate at the bottom, diameter of the
cylinder: 148 mm, top
lateral area 0.017 m2, height: 40 cm, with a cone-shaped cartridge, inner
lateral area of 0.00785
m2, was charged with 1 kg of solid MGDA-Na3 spherical particles, diameter 350
to 1,250 pm. An
amount of 42 Nm3/h of nitrogen with a temperature of 150 C was blown from the
bottom. A fluid-
ized bed of MGDA-Na3 particles was obtained. The above solution SL.1 was
introduced by
spraying 1.9 kg of SL.1 (20 C) per hour into the fluidized from the bottom
through a two-fluid
nozzle, parameters: 4.5 Nm3/h nitrogen, absolute pressure in the nozzle: 3.4
bar. Granules were
formed, and the bed temperature, which corresponds to the surface temperature
of the solids in
the fluidized bed, was 100 C.
After every 30 minutes portions of solids were removed with an in-line
discharge screw attached
to the cylindrical vessel directly above the perforated plate. After such
removal, an amount of 1
kg of granule remained in the fluidized bed. The solids removed were subjected
to two sieving
CA 02938467 2016-08-01
WO 2015/121170 PCT/EP2015/052533
21
steps. Three fractions were obtained: coarse particles (diameter > 1.25 mm),
fines (diameter <
0.355 mm), middle fraction (0.355 mm < diameter < 1.25 mm). The coarse
particles were milled
using a hammer mill (Kinetatica Polymix PX-MFL 900) at 4000 rpm (rounds per
minute), 2 mm
mesh. The powder so obtained was mixed with the fines and then altogether
returned into the
fluidized bed.
After 2 hours of spray granulating a steady state was reached. The middle
fraction was collect-
ed as inventive granule Gr.1. The residual moisture of Gr.1 was determined to
be 10.5 to 11.0
%, referring to the total solids content of the granule.
In the above example, hot nitrogen of 150 C can be replaced by hot air having
a temperature of
150 C.
II. Manufacture of further spray solutions and spray granulation thereof
11.1 Manufacture of spray solution SL.2 and spray granulation
A vessel was charged with 6.685 kg of an aqueous solution of (A.1) (40 % by
weight) and 315 g
of a 45% by weight aqueous solution of polymer (B.1). The solution SL.2 so
obtained was
stirred and then subjected to spray granulation.
For spray granulation, the protocol according to 1.2 was followed but with
spraying of SL.2 in-
stead of SL.1. Inventive granule Gr.2 was obtained.
11.2 Manufacture of spray solution SL.3 and spray granulation
A vessel was charged with 6.055 kg of an aqueous solution of (A.1) (40 % by
weight) and 945 g
of a 45% by weight aqueous solution of polymer (B.1). The solution SL.3 so
obtained was
stirred and then subjected to spray granulation.
For spray granulation, the protocol according to 1.2 was followed but with
spraying of SL.3 in-
stead of SL.1. Inventive granule Gr.3 was obtained.
All inventive granules Gr.1, Gr.2, and Gr.3 contain (A.1) and polymer (B.1) in
molecularly dis-
perse form.
11.3: Comparative example: Manufacture of a comparative spray solution and
spray granulation
thereof
A vessel was charged with 7 kg of an aqueous solution of (A.1) (40 % by
weight) but no polymer
(B.1). The solution C-SL.4 so obtained was then subjected to spray
granulation.
22
For spray granulation, the protocol according to 1.2 was followed but with
spraying of C-SL.4
instead of SL.1. Inventive granule C-Gr.4 was obtained.
III. Storage tests
An amount of 10 g of inventive granule Gr.1 or Gr.2 or Gr.3 or of comparative
granule C-Gr.4
was mixed with 5 g of sodium percarbonate 2Na2CO3. 3H202 commercially
available from
Reckitt Benckiser. The mixture so obtained was filled into a glass container
and stored under air
at 35 C and 70% humidity. 5 minutes after start of the storage test, and after
each 11 days, af-
ter 18 days, and after 25, the diffuse reflection was determined as remission
and measured with
a spectrophotometer for determining the whiteness, manufacturer: Elrepho from
Data Color
SF450 aperture LAV 30, measuring b-value at a wavelength of 360-700nm. Further
parameters:
average daylight D65/10 , optical geometry DO. A high the diffuse reflection
corresponds with a
high yellowing of the sample. The diffuse reflection values obtained are
summarized in table 1.
Table 1: Yellowing behavior of inventive granules and of comparative granule
Diffuse reflection after Gr.1 Gr.2 Gr.3 C-Gr.4
5 minutes 7.5 8.54 8.82 6.44
11 days n. d. n. d. n. d. 10.42
18 days 9.65 11.06 9.77 17.75
days 15.72 n.d. 19.31 25.06
n. d.: not determined
20 The yellowing/diffuse reflection is determined as B value.
***
In some aspects, embodiments of the present invention as described herein
include the follow-
ing items:
1. Process for making a powder or granule containing
(A) in the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight of at least one chelating agent
selected from
the group consisting of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid
diacetate
(GLDA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and their respective alkali metal salts,
(B) in the range of from 1 to 20 % by weight of at least one homo- or
copolymer of
(meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali, said homo- or
copolymer (B)
having an average molecular weight M, in the range of from 1,200 to 30,000
g/mol,
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-06-17
23
determined by gel permeation chromatography and referring to the respective
free ac-
id,
percentages referring to the solids content of said powder or granule,
said process comprising the steps of
(a) mixing the at least one chelating agent (A) and the at least one homo- or
copolymer
(B) in the presence of water,
(b) removing at least 55% of said water by spray-drying or spray granulation
using a gas
with an inlet temperature of at least 125 C.
2. The process according to item 1, wherein said chelating agent (A) is
selected from the
trisodium salt of MGDA and the tetrasodium salt of GLDA.
3. The process according to item 1 or 2, wherein said homo- or copolymer
(B) is selected
from the per-sodium salts of polyacrylic acid.
4. The process according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein said homo- or
copolymers (B)
are selected from copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid and a comonomer bearing at
least one
sulfonic acid group per molecule.
5. Powder or granule containing
(A) in the range of from 80 to 99 % by weight of at least one chelating agent
selected
from the group consisting of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic
acid di-
acetate (GLDA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and their respective alkali metal
salts,
(B) in the range of from 1 to 20 A by weight of at least one homo- or
copolymer of
(meth)acrylic acid, partially or fully neutralized with alkali, said homo- or
copolymer
(B) having an average molecular weight Mw in the range of from 1,200 to 30,000
g/mol, determined by gel permeation chromatography and referring to the
respective
free acid,
in molecularly disperse form, percentages referring to the solids content of
said powder
or granule.
6. The powder or granule according to item 5 having a residual moisture
content in the range
of from 1 to 20 % by weight.
7. The powder or granule according to item 5 or 6, said powder having an
average particle
diameter in the range of from 1 pm to less than 0.1 mm and said granules
having an aver-
age particle diameter in the range of from 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-06-17
24
8. The powder or granule according to any one of items 5 to 7 wherein said
chelating agent
(A) is selected from the trisodium salt of MGDA and the tetrasodium salt of
GLDA.
9. The powder or granule according to any one of items 5 to 8 wherein said
homo- or copol-
ymer (B) is selected from the per-sodium salts of polyacrylic acid.
10. The powder or granule according to any one of items 5 to 9 wherein said
homo- or copol-
ymers (B) are selected from copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid and a comonomer
bearing
at least one sulfonic acid group per molecule.
11. Use of the powder or granule as defined in any one of items 5 to 10 for
the manufacture of
a cleaning agent for fibers or hard surfaces wherein said cleaning agent
contains at least
one peroxy compound.
12. The use according to item 11 wherein said at least one peroxy compound
is selected from
percarbonates, persulfates and perborates.
13. Cleaning agent, containing at least one peroxy compound and said at
least one powder or
granule as defined in any one of items 5 to 10.
14. The cleaning agent according to item 13, wherein said at least one
peroxy compound is
selected from percarbonates, persulfates and perborates.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-06-17
